Joist bridging



Nov. 14, 1933. c. T. HATCH JOIST BRIDGING Filed July 16. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- NOV. 14, C. T HATCH JOIST BRIDGING Filed July 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EL L INVENTOR r.zo

Patented Nov. 14, 1933 1,934,708 Jois'r BRIDGING Charles T. Hatch, Albion, Mich., assignor toA Union Steel Products Company, Albion, Mich.

Application July-16, 1931. Serial N0. 551,208

15 Claims. (Cl. 189-36) The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a joist bridging for metal joists which may be quickly applied ,and when applied is very rigid. I i

Second, to provide bridging having these advantages .which is adaptable to considerable variation in the spacing of the joists.

Third, to provide a metal bridging for joists which has clamping engagement with the joists.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will denitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is dened in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of my invention is clearly illustratedin the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view partially in section and partially in elevation showing a pair of joists and my improved bridging in operative relation thereto. l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View in section showing one of the bridging units in adjusted position on another taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view similar to Fig. 2 after the deforming interlockingoperation, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a unit being applied to a joist shown in fragmentary section.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an upper unit.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a lower unit.

In the accompanying drawings 1 represents joists of I cross section. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, I provide a plurality of upper and lower or male and female bridging units 2 and 3 each consisting of members 4 and 5 of offset channel cross section connected by bendable strapsV 6. These are in practice formed of strips of channel cross section, the flanges 7 of the members being cut out at 6. Slots 8 are cut along the edges of the web from these cut-outs providing joist engaging ilngers or lugs 9. The flanges 7 of the lugs are flared at 10 so as to provide a bearing surface of considerable width and strength engaging the inner sides of the flanges of the joists with the strap 6 wrapped over the same.

The flanges of the outer portions 4 and 5 of the members 2 and 3 are reversed, that is, folded in opposite directions, with one unit engaged with the top of a jost and another engaged with the bottom of anadjacent joist. The adjacent members 4 and 5 may be nested or overlapped as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the overlapped parts being locked together by indenting their flanges as at 11 and offsetting them at 12.

In applying the bridging the operator grasps the two members 4 and 5, swinging Vthem to the 60 position shown by Fig. 6, over the joist, and then swinging the members of the unit downwardly, or

upwardly in the application to the lower edge of the joist. The bridging units of adjacent joists are arranged'in alinement sothat the ends of 65 adjacent units overlap as shown in Fig. 5 and are then interlocked by indenting and offsetting as described.

My improved bridging may be very economically produced, quickly applied, and is very rigid and secure, I have not attempted to illustrate certain othcrembcdiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the same as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

11. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a plurality-of joists of I cross section, anda plurality'of male andrfemale bridging units` ofoifset channel cross section each having cut-outs in their flanges and tapered slots eX- tending from said cut-outs at the edges of the web providing joist engaging straps and joist clamping members, the units being arranged over the edges of the joists with their clamping members engaging the inner sides of the joist flanges, a portion of the channel at one end of one unit facing similarly tothe channel at the other end ,90 of the other unit, the male units being arranged with their offset channeled ends in lapping nested relation with the oifset channeled ends of adjacent female units and being secured together by upsetting and indenting their lapping flanges.

2. Ina structure of the class described, the combination of a plurality of joists of I cross section, and a plurality of bridging units of offset channel cross section each having cut-outs in their flanges and slots extending from said cut- 100 cuts at the edges of the web providing joist engaging straps and joist clamping members, said clamping members being flared, the units being arranged about the edges of the joists with their clamping members engaging the inner sides of the joist flanges, the ends of the units being interlocked with the ends of adjacent units.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination of joists of I cross section, and a bridging unit of channel cross section having cut-outs in its iianges and slots extending from said cut-outs at the edges of the web providing a joist engaging strap and joist clamping members, the unit being arranged over the edge of the joist with its clamping members engaging the inner sides of the joist anges.

4. A structure of the class described comprising a plurality of joists of I cross section, and bridging elements of channel cross section having cut-outs in their flanges and slots extending from such cut-outs providing straps engaged over the joists with the ends of the iianges adjacent the cut-outs engaging the inner sides of the flanges of the joists, the outer ends of the bridging elements being connected to adjacent elements.

5. A structure of the class described comprising a plurality of joists of I cross section, and a bridging element of channel cross section having cut-outs in its flanges providing a strap, said strap being engaged over a joist With the ends of the fianges adjacent the cut-outs engaging the joist, the outer ends of the element being connected to adjacent elements.

6. The combination of a plurality of bridging units each provided with joist engaging members and having oppositely facing offset channel portions at their ends disposed in lapping nested relation with channel portions of adjacent units, the flanges of adjacent portions having locking indentations therein.

7. The combination of a plurality of bridging units of channel cross section, each having cutouts in their anges at a central point and slots extending from said cut-outs partially severing the flanges from the web providinga joist engaging strap and joist clamping members, a portion of the channel at one end of each unit facing similarly to the channel at the other end of the unit to receive the end of an adjacent unit, the units being secured together by indentations in the anges of their contiguous parts.

8. The combination of a plurality of bridging units of channel cross section, each having central cut-outs in their anges and slots extending from the cut-outs providing a joist engaging strap, the adjacent ends of the flanges providing joist clamping members, a portion of the channel at the ends of the units being offset from the channel to receive the end of an adjacent unit.

9. The combination of a plurality of bridging units of channel cross section, each having central cut-outs in their flanges and tapered slots extending from the cut-outs providing a joist engaging strap, the adjacent ends of the flanges providing joist ange and web clamping members.

` 10. A bridging unit of channel cross section havingcentral cut-outs in its flanges and slots extending from such cut-outs at the edges of its web providing a joist engaging strap and joist flange and web clamping members, the inner edges of said clamping members being beveled,

a portion of the channel at one end of the unit facing similarly to the channel at the other end thereof.

11. A bridging unit of channel cross section having central cut-outs in rits fianges providing a joist engaging strap and opposed joist ange and web clamping members, a portion of the channel at one end of the unit facing similarly` to the channel at the other end thereof.

12. A bridging unit of channel cross section having cut-outs in its anges and slots extending from such cut-outsproviding a joist engaging strap and opposed joist flange and Web clamping lugs.

13. A bridging unit of channel cross section having cut-outs in its flanges and tapered slots extending from such cut-outs providing a joist engaging strap and opposed joist flange and web clamping lugs.

14. A bridging unit of channel cross section having cut-outs in its anges providing a joist engaging strap and opposed joist flange and web clamping lugs. '115 15. A bridging unit comprising a pair of channel members connected by a bendable joist engaging strap, the adjacent ends of the flanges of the channel members being spaced and constituting opposed joist flange and web engaging'lgg) lugs.

CHARLES T. HATCH. 

